The latest data released by JAMA, the automotive trade association that includes representation of Japanese motorcycle manufacturers among its membership, shows exports of 250cc+ Japanese made motorcycles to Europe up by +45.19 percent in April at around 18,500 units, as the manufacturers exploit shorter manufacturing cycles to respond to market demand.
So far in 2016 (the first four months) Japanese manufacturer exports to Europe are up by +21.63 percent, at 81,651 units – the best first four months they have had since 2010.
In total PTW terms, Europe was +41.58 percent for the Japanese manufacturers in April (19,682 units) with the year-to-date +20.95 percent (85,754 units).
Japanese manufacturer exports to the United States were +10.53 percent in April (6,032 units) and are running at -0.57 percent for the year-to-date (34,036 units).
In total global export terms, Japanese made 250+cc units selling to all export markets were +24.97 percent in April (29,842 units) and are +6.21 percent year-to-date (143,261 units). In total PTW terms, April exports were +14.79 percent and are running at +5.53 percent for the year-to-date (177,333 units).
The increasing number of units being made by the Japanese manufacturers elsewhere in Asia, the US and South/Central America goes some way to explaining the data, though the majority of higher value larger displacement machines, especially those being exported to Europe, are still made in Japan.
While the volume of larger cc manufacturing taking place in wholly Japanese owned and affiliate/partnership operated factories outside Japan is on the rise, their overseas factories are still primarily engaged in making and selling scooters and smaller capacity units in 'emerging' markets (where import tariffs are high) and in making ATV/UTV units - especially in the United States, where demand for such machines is strongest.
www.jama.org
